Mind over matter, folks. It works.
Well, sometimes. The sweat trickling between my boobs really made it hard for my brain to pretend it was December. Man, it was HOT.
Anyway, my samples for today show how color can create a totally different feel on a card. The first is soft purple, very peaceful and serene. The second is bright blue, much more energetic and perky. Which you prefer probably says a lot about what you're craving at the moment.
Design Discussion: This card layout began with a card in a magazine, but the final product bears no resemblance to the original piece AT ALL. It's really an example of letting your creative spirit do what it wants. Sometimes giving that little voice free rein works, as here, and sometimes it doesn't, as in the many cards I've pitched in the recycle bin.
The reason I love this particular design so much is that the snowflakes form a visual triangle...connect the bling and you get a very obvious triangle. Visual triangles show relationship between the different parts of a design and create harmony and balance. Also, the sentiment cuts right across the hypotenuse of the triangle, giving the whole design a pulled-together, grounded look even though it's floating in the middle of the card.
Rules for OLW13
1. A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half.
2. The theme of your card must be Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/winter. Remember to keep embellishments to a minimum.
3. Please share your creations by posting your card online and then using the InLinkz button in the sidebar of Simplicity to link to it.
4. Most important of all...HAVE FUN!
And since we give presents at Christmas, I'm offering a give-away with OLW13! One random entry will receive a stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers' August Release. How totally cool is that?
Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Snowflake Serenade, Signature Christmas
ink: Memento black, Bahama blue, grape jelly, lu lu lavender
paper: PTI white
accessories: bling
size: 5.5" x 4.25"
'tis the season!!! I love the idea of a give away... Very cool, pun intended.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing at myself because I was so smug, thinking how I'm ahead of the Challenge game because I have ALL my Christmas cards finished. BUT, all but one you would recognize as your brilliant designs. Hmmmm, maybe I will take the week to force a design out of my ownself, if that's even possible.
ReplyDeleteLove your cards, especially the blue. I'm not a fan of bright colors but every time you use that particular one, I remember how I love it.
A big fat WOW!!!!! Love the blue! X
ReplyDeleteLove your cards, esp. the second one....Oh its so simple yet amazing. TFS.
ReplyDeleteLove the blue - so striking, I do enjoy a maths lesson in the middle of a card blog. This is a really great challenge as I struggle with the design for my mother's Christmas cards. She would truly appreciate the CAS principle so I shall have a think and create on the weekend (after the Saturday morning round of ballet and jazz classes).
ReplyDeleteOooooh, this is a STUNNING layout!!
ReplyDeleteWow, these are stunning and so elegant.
ReplyDeleteVery stylish, as usual! And you gave us a geometry lesson, too!!
ReplyDeleteUsually I love Christmas cards with blue in it, but if I had to chose I would say I like the lavender one better. May be I need serene right now?
ReplyDeletePetra
Now, normally, I would gravitate toward the second card, because I really love bright colors. This time, I'm LOVIN the first card...it makes me feel "cool", which is something I crave since it's in the high 90s and low 100s here today in sunny Florida!!!
ReplyDeleteI can DO this!!But not for a few day...got to finish up the work week first....Blah!
Beautiful cards, Susan!!!
Both are beautiful. You are so right the colors suiting our moods. It's hot this morning so I think I like the soft colors best today. My family would probably like receiving the bright one. Decisions, decisions. BTW, I just had to buy that Hero Arts stamp set you used last week! I shouldn't have, but I am really enjoying it. Thanks for all your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI love both of these simple, elegant cards but right now, my preference is for cool, calm, serene so I'm opting for lavender :o)
ReplyDeleteThe design tips have been great and I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate them. Another great card.
ReplyDeleteAh, lovely cards. If you could bear mass-production, this would be a great design for it!
ReplyDeleteI just pulled up a few Christmas supplies from the basement the other day -- now I have an even better reason to use them! Thanks.
And good luck with the cleavage sweat.
Both cards are beautiful and I would NEVER have thought to stamp the snowflakes like that. And the bling - well, it's PERFECTLY simple!
ReplyDeleteLove both your cards. I can't decide which colour I like best - if I had to pick, I think I'd go with soft purple. Which is probably right as Vancouver's pleasant summer weather and the flowers in my garden make me feel peaceful and serene. Can't wait to do this week's challenge - Christmas cards are my favourite cards to make. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! Love them both.
ReplyDeleteSusan these are so lovely! I have a really hard time doing holiday cards right now - so this is going to be a real challenge! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOOOH....I am SO diggin' the orchid! Beautiful, serene, soft - I love it! Great challenge, Susan - thanks for a chance to win a prize from MFP too! I don't own any of their stamps, and would love to! Hugs...
ReplyDeleteBoth these cards are beautiful, but the purple one seems to be calling to me more right now. I ALMOST did a Christmas card for last week's watercolour challenge... now I'm glad I didn't, since I've already got my idea! :)
ReplyDeleteThese are fabulous! I just love this postage-friendly design!!
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful challenge. I didn't thing I was in the mood for Christmas but this has me inspired. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAs one of "those" people who like to mass produce this is the cutest card. I think I'll opt for multiple colors. Thank you for the great idea!
ReplyDeletehmmm... what have i done with the christmas stash - must be about somewhere! Love the blue one too, so crisp on the white background.
ReplyDeleteI needed this challenge; every year I say I will make cards and every year I give up and just get lame-o photo cards.
ReplyDeleteDo you alter the background color in your photo editing software? Or do you really have that many different backgrounds from which to choose? I hope I'm not the only person who wonders about this.
Nicole, I use two sheets of cardstock propped up on my desk and an Ott light to photograph my cards. Since I collect and rarely use colored cardstock, I really do have lots of colors!
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteboth of these are cool and quieting as a beautiful snowfall. I like the second one the best. The blue pops more and give great contrast.
Hi, your cards are just beautiful, I love the snowflake images and you have placed them perfectly. Both colours are 'right'.
ReplyDeleteNow we have the chance to win some stamps, hey hey, brilliant fun, Thanks:)xxx
I actually love the purple one...which NEVER happens! It must be OLW magic! Your post cracked me up...sweating in places we shouldn't makes for stampin'. :) I combined the challenge with another, so have a few to add. Thanks! Shannon
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Great challenge! I finally got a chance to play along with one of these and I will link it up tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteanother one from me here x
ReplyDeleteFab cards Susan!
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting to see your layouts in different colours. I'm playing more with my colours now too :)
Hugs
Maarit
Just recently turned on to this blog and challenge. Love the cards and playing with different color. Thanks for the opportunity to win the give away.
ReplyDelete